"Sun shines on energy-efficient house" Edmonton Journal
An Edmonton neighbourhood celebrated the grand opening of the Belgravia Green Net Zero Project—three new net-zero energy building homes built through a collaboration between homeowners, local experts and Effect Home Builders, an Edmonton builder specializing in energy-efficient homes. One of the homes is a showhome open for viewings on Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
What exactly is a "net zero energy building (NZEB)?"
Generally speaking, a NZEB is a home that produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of one year. Experts divide net zero energy buildings in to four different categories:
Net-Zero Site Energy — A building that produces and exports at least as much renewable energy as the total energy it imports and uses in a year, when accounted for at the site. The measurement time frame is annual.
Net-Zero Source Energy — A building that produces and exports at least as much renewable energy as the total energy it imports and uses in a year, when accounted for at the source. "Source energy" refers to the primary energy required to generate and deliver the energy to the site. To calculate a building's total source energy, imported and exported energy is multiplied by the appropriate site-to-source conversion multipliers.
Net-Zero Energy Costs — A building where the amount of money a utility pays the building's owner for the renewable energy the building exports to the grid is at least equal to the amount the owner pays the utility for the energy services and energy used over the year.
Net-Zero Energy Emissions — A building that produces and exports at least as much emissions-free renewable energy as it imports and uses from emission-producing energy sources annually. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides are common emissions that NZEBs offset.
Below are just a few of the books on green building in the library collection: